We’re delighted to announce that we, along with our parent company TerraQuest Solutions Ltd, have been purchased by Apse Capital, a new independent European private equity group. The transaction is expected to close in the first week of December, subject to Mears group shareholder approval and MHCLG consent. Read the full press release here.
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The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has launched a new survey to ask housing clients for their views on working with an architect.
The RIBA’s 2020 Working with Architects survey is in collaboration with our partners including the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Planning Portal.
Read more…Public to be surveyed on England’s planning system
The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has asked the public to take part in a survey on the planning system in England and the government’s proposed reforms to it.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Task force launches guidance for self-build homes
The Right to Build Task Force has published the first phase of its guidance to support the delivery of custom and self-build homes in England.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Forestry strategy for Great Britain is published
The Welsh Government, supported by the Scottish and UK governments, has issued a new science and innovation strategy for the long-term future of forestry in Great Britain.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Demand for retirement communities is growing, finds survey
A survey of UK retirement community operators indicates that there has been a ‘very significant’ increase in the number of older people enquiring about and moving to retirement communities.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Plans to decarbonise transport should link to spatial planning
Although welcome, plans to decarbonise transport need to link to spatial planning and transport policies should provide a ‘clear route map’ to net-zero 2050.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
AHF announces grants for heritage projects
Projects in England that seek to revitalise local high streets will receive grant money from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF).
Laura Edgar, The Planner
On 16 November the planning application forms for London changed. The Greater London Authority is leading a project which involves amendments to the Planning Portal’s existing online application forms for submission to London Boroughs. This includes the addition of new questions as well as alterations to a number of existing questions. These changes will enable planning authorities in London to access information and data about planning proposals in a more effective way. The changes were piloted beforehand, on 9 November, by the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and the Borough of Ealing.
Read more…The Planning Portal Virtual Conference 2020 is pleased to welcome:
Minister of State for Housing
Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP
People should live ‘never more than 10 minutes’ from basic facilities
When designing neighbourhoods, the aspiration should be for everyone to live within a five-minute walk of ‘significant’ green space or a park and ‘never be more than 10 minutes’ from basic facilities.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Council upgrades planning tools to improve customer service
Derbyshire County Council has begun using a suite of planning tools as it seeks to deliver a customer-focused service that can respond more quickly to changes in planning legislation.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
London council is keen to be pilot for digital planning
Councillors at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council have given their support to plans for the government’s plans for better digital engagement and online local plans.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Builders workloads increase due to home improvements
New data shows that 47 per cent of builders saw an increase in their workloads during the summer months.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Nature is ‘vital’ to the economy
Natural England has pledged that in its role as an adviser to the planning system it will ensure that the value nature provides is not just a ‘nice-to-have’ but recognised as being ‘vital’ to economic and social needs.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Spending review should be used to build resilient communities
The government should empower local authorities and local economic partnerships (LEPs) to lead the redesign of the built environment through the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).
Laura Edgar, The Planner
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